Closed test for 0.11.2: French cruisers

~ Sebastianul

New French cruisers have been added to the game for testing.

We’re adding new researchable French cruisers to the game for an upcoming closed test session:

Cherbourg, tier VIII

A project for a super-heavy cruiser similar to the Dunkerque-class fast battleship, with a main battery consisting of eight 305 mm guns.

Brest, tier IX

A cruiser with 330 mm main battery guns concentrated on the bow. The ship’s anti-aircraft weaponry is made up of Bofors and Oerlikon automatic guns.

Marseille, tier X

A super-heavy cruiser with a displacement of over 30,000 tons. The main armament consists of nine 330 mm guns placed in three turrets on the bow of the ship.

This new branch of ships will find a home beside the existing branch of the French cruisers. The distinctive features of these large cruisers are their speed (thanks to the traditionally French improved Engine Boost) and their large number of powerful guns with a long reload time, which is compensated with a Main Battery Reload Booster. However, they cannot boast of having strong armor. Because of this, coupled with their large size, they are quite vulnerable to HE shells. The preferred combat distance is medium and long-range, but thanks to the 139 mm secondaries with increased accuracy, these cruisers can also prove themselves in close-quarters combat.

French Cruiser Toulon, tier VII

The project of a “battleship with a displacement of 17,500 tons”, which was actually closer to a super-heavy cruiser. The main purpose envisioned for the ship was to counter the “Washington” treaty cruisers.

Toulon is the first large cruiser to appear at tier VII. It is armed with powerful main battery guns and a rich choice of consumables for her tier: Main Battery Reload Booster, Repair party, Hydroacoustic Search/Defensive AA Fire, and Fighter.

The large cruisers of this new branch are based on designs developed by French engineers in the 1920s and 1930s, the very same ones that the famous Dunkerque and Strasbourg originated from. Perhaps as a way of highlighting just how innovative the ships really were, they received rather unusual names. Oddly enough, by the 1930s, the French Navy had virtually no history of naming its capital ships after cities. In addition to the dreadnought Paris, which entered service in 1914, only 2 other battleships were planned to begin construction in 1915 with the names Lyon and Lille, though they were canceled due to the outbreak of the First World War. It may be that Paris was named not strictly after the bustling French capital itself, but perhaps as a tribute to the memory of 4 mid-18th century ships of the line That served successively under the name Ville de Paris. This name, like Ville de Marseille, was originally granted to the ship as a gesture of gratitude for the patriotic gesture of these respective cities’ citizens who donated their own money to funds the construction of these mighty sailboats. However, the logic behind naming ships after other cities beyond those two is not clear at first glance, unless you’re looking from the sea…

Of course, Dunkerque is the most understandable of all — remembered in the annals of naval history as a hive of French corsairs in the service of the Sun King, Louis XIV back in the 17th century. By the time the battleship was laid down in 1932, however, the public’s view of the city had evolved to encompass more recent historical happenings: Dunkerque was now also considered the most honored port of France, renowned for the heroism of its inhabitants during the Great War, the country’s third-largest harbor after Marseille and Le Havre, and one of the largest naval bases in France, becoming in 1939 the headquarters of the commanding officer of French forces in the English Channel and the North Sea. Against this résumé, the landlocked Strasbourg looks almost absurd on the surface, unless you factor in that French sovereignty over the city’s region of Alsace had only recently been secured at Germany’s expense through much effort and sacrifice during the First World War.. However, it is not in vain that “Strasbourg” is translated as “the city at the crossroads” — it is the country’s largest river port and, to this day, the second largest on the Rhine. At the beginning of the 20th century, when inland waterways were significantly more consequential, this role was much more appreciated.

Now, if we also look at Lyon and Lille from this same perspective, it turns out that the first is not only one of the largest cities in France, but — through the Rhone River and the canal system — has access both to the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic. The industrial center of Lille also competes for a place in the top three French river ports, being at the crossroads of waterways from Le Havre, Dunkirk, Calais, Belgium and the Netherlands. It seems that this hypothesis about Marine Nationale ships being named in honor of French cities is not entirely unfounded. At least to us in World of Warships, it seemed worthy of attention. Therefore, the large cruisers of the new branch of the French nation have received appropriate names, with which we pay tribute to the glorious history and dynamic modernity of one of the world’s most prominent maritime powers.

Toulon is the main naval base of France and is currently the largest in Europe, and by the beginning of World War II, the headquarters of the commander of the French Navy in the Mediterranean.

Cherbourg is one of the largest historical and modern naval bases and fortresses of France since the time of Marshal Vauban and Emperor Napoleon I — a port and military shipbuilding center of great importance on the English Channel.

Brest – founded by Cardinal Richelieu, the main naval base of the Marine Nationale Atlantic Fleet and a port on the coast of Brittany; an outpost and France’s gateway to the oceans.

Marseille is simply the main seaport of the country and the largest city in the south of France.

Ships’ characteristics

Closed test, French cruiser Cherbourg, tier VIII

Hit points – 49500. Plating – 25 mm. Fires duration: 60 s.

Main battery – 2×4 305 mm. Firing range – 17.7 km.

Maximum HE shell damage – 4050. HE shell armor penetration – 51 mm. Chance to cause fire – 17%. HE initial velocity – 905 m/s.

Maximum AP shell damage – 8200. AP initial velocity – 870 m/s.

Reload time – 25.0 s. 180 degree turn time – 30.0 s. Maximum dispersion – 197 м. Sigma – 1.80.

Secondary Armament:

  • 7×2 130.0 mm, range  – 7.6 km.
  • Maximum HE shell damage – 1900. Chance to cause fire – 9%. HE initial velocity – 840 m/s

AA defense: 7×2 130.0 mm., 16×2 25.0 mm., 6×2 37.0 mm.

  • AA defense short-range: continuous damage per second – 196, hit probability – 85 %, action zone – 2.5 km;
  • AA defense mid-range: continuous damage per second – 133, hit probability – 90 %, action zone – 3.5 km;
  • AA defense long-range: continuous damage per second – 84, hit probability – 90 %, action zone – 6.0 km;
  • Number of explosions in a salvo – 4, damage within an explosion – 1400, action zone 3.5 – 6.0 km.

Maximum speed – 31.9 kt. Turning circle radius – 670 m. Rudder shift time – 12.5 s. Surface detectability – 15.7 km. Air detectability – 8.4 km. Detectability after firing main guns in smoke  – 12.2 km.

Available consumables:

  • 1 slot – Damage Control Party;
  • 2 slot – Hydroacoustic Search / Defensive AA Fire;
  • 3 slot – Fighter / Engine Boost;
  • 4 slot – Main Battery Reload Booster;
  • 5 slot – Repair Party.

All stats are listed without crew and upgrade modifiers but with best available modules. The stats are subject to change during the testing.

Closed test, French cruiser Brest, tier IX
Hit points – 55300. Plating – 25 mm. Fires duration: 60 s.

Main battery – 2×4 330 mm. Firing range – 18.2 km.

Maximum HE shell damage – 4800. HE shell armor penetration – 55 mm. Chance to cause fire – 35%. HE initial velocity – 885 m/s.

Maximum AP shell damage – 9700. AP initial velocity – 870 m/s.

Reload time – 25.0 s. 180 degree turn time – 36.0 s. Maximum dispersion – 201 м. Sigma – 1.80.

Secondary Armament:

  • 8×2 139.0 mm, range  – 7.8 km.
  • Maximum HE shell damage – 2000. Chance to cause fire – 10%. HE initial velocity – 840 m/s

AA defense: 4×4 40.0 mm., 8×2 139.0 mm., 4×2 40.0 mm., 18×2 20.0 mm.

  • AA defense short-range: continuous damage per second – 228, hit probability – 85 %, action zone – 2.0 km;
  • AA defense mid-range: continuous damage per second – 189, hit probability – 90 %, action zone – 3.5 km;
  • AA defense long-range: continuous damage per second – 147, hit probability – 90 %, action zone – 6.0 km;
  • Number of explosions in a salvo – 6, damage within an explosion – 1680, action zone 3.5 – 6.0 km.

Maximum speed – 31.5 kt. Turning circle radius – 720 m. Rudder shift time – 13.2 s. Surface detectability – 15.1 km. Air detectability – 10.53 km. Detectability after firing main guns in smoke  – 12.38 km.

Available consumables:

  • 1 slot – Damage Control Party;
  • 2 slot – Hydroacoustic Search / Defensive AA Fire;
  • 3 slot – Fighter / Engine Boost;
  • 4 slot – Main Battery Reload Booster;
  • 5 slot – Repair Party.

All stats are listed without crew and upgrade modifiers but with best available modules. The stats are subject to change during the testing.

Closed test, French cruiser Marseille, tier X

Hit points – 66950. Plating – 25 mm. Fires duration: 60 s.

Main battery – 3×3 330 mm. Firing range – 19.6 km.

Maximum HE shell damage – 4800. HE shell armor penetration – 55 mm. Chance to cause fire – 35%. HE initial velocity – 885 m/s.

Maximum AP shell damage – 9700. AP initial velocity – 870 m/s.

Reload time – 24.0 s. 180 degree turn time – 36.0 s. Maximum dispersion – 213 м. Sigma – 1.80.

Secondary Armament:

  • 4×3 139.0 mm, range  – 8.3 km.
  • Maximum HE shell damage – 2000. Chance to cause fire – 10%. HE initial velocity – 840 m/s
  • 6×2 139.0 mm, range  – 8.3 km.
  • Maximum HE shell damage – 2000. Chance to cause fire – 10%. HE initial velocity – 840 m/s

AA defense: 2×4 40.0 mm., 4×3 139.0 mm., 6×2 139.0 mm., 8×2 40.0 mm., 18×2 20.0 mm.

  • AA defense short-range: continuous damage per second – 221, hit probability – 85 %, action zone – 2.0 km;
  • AA defense mid-range: continuous damage per second – 207, hit probability – 90 %, action zone – 3.5 km;
  • AA defense long-range: continuous damage per second – 196, hit probability – 90 %, action zone – 6.0 km;
  • Number of explosions in a salvo – 8, damage within an explosion – 1750, action zone 3.5 – 6.0 km.

Maximum speed – 33.0 kt. Turning circle radius – 770 m. Rudder shift time – 14.5 s. Surface detectability – 14.8 km. Air detectability – 10.1 km. Detectability after firing main guns in smoke  – 12.1 km.

Available consumables:

  • 1 slot – Damage Control Party;
  • 2 slot – Hydroacoustic Search / Defensive AA Fire;
  • 3 slot – Fighter / Engine Boost;
  • 4 slot – Main Battery Reload Booster;
  • 5 slot – Repair Party.

All stats are listed without crew and upgrade modifiers but with best available modules. The stats are subject to change during the testing.

Closed test, French cruiser Toulon, tier VII

Hit points – 42500. Plating – 16 mm. Fires duration: 60 s.

Main battery – 2×4 305 mm. Firing range – 16.8 km.

Maximum HE shell damage – 4050. HE shell armor penetration – 51 mm. Chance to cause fire – 17%. HE initial velocity – 905 m/s.

Maximum AP shell damage – 8000. AP initial velocity – 798 m/s.

Reload time – 28.0 s. 180 degree turn time – 40.0 s. Maximum dispersion – 189 м. Sigma – 1.90.

Secondary Armament:

  • 2×3 155.0 mm, range  – 6.3 km.
  • Maximum HE shell damage – 2200. Chance to cause fire – 11%. HE initial velocity – 870 m/s
  • 6×2 100.0 mm, range  – 6.3 km.
  • Maximum HE shell damage – 1400. Chance to cause fire – 6%. HE initial velocity – 780 m/s

AA defense: 18×2 25.0 mm., 8×2 37.0 mm., 6×2 100.0 mm.

  • AA defense short-range: continuous damage per second – 238, hit probability – 85 %, action zone – 2.5 km;
  • AA defense mid-range: continuous damage per second – 35, hit probability – 90 %, action zone – 3.0 km;
  • AA defense long-range: continuous damage per second – 56, hit probability – 90 %, action zone – 5.8 km;
  • Number of explosions in a salvo – 2, damage within an explosion – 1120, action zone 3.5 – 5.8 km.

Maximum speed – 30.0 kt. Turning circle radius – 710 m. Rudder shift time – 11.5 s. Surface detectability – 11.5 km. Air detectability – 7.9 km. Detectability after firing main guns in smoke  – 8.8 km.

Available consumables:

  • 1 slot – Damage Control Party;
  • 2 slot – Hydroacoustic Search / Defensive AA Fire;
  • 3 slot – Fighter;
  • 4 slot – Main Battery Reload Booster;
  • 5 slot – Repair Party (Duration time 28 s; HP per second 212.5; Reload time 80 s; Charges 3)

All stats are listed without crew and upgrade modifiers. The stats are subject to change during the testing.

Please note that all information in the development blog is preliminary. Announced adjustments and features may change multiple times during testing.